MARITIME MATTERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 165, 16 July 1904, Page 3

MARITIME MATTERS.

THE P. AND 0. AUSTRALIA. MELBOURNE, July 15. The wrecked steamer Australia is on fire. The flames have a strong hold and are burning fiercely. No one was aboaixl the vessel at the time of the outbreak. (Received July 10, 1.40 a.m.) MELBOURNE, July 15. The Australia is ablaze from right aft to the bridge, and it seems certain that before to-morrow the fire will have spread all over the vessel. The sight to-night is a grand one, the flames reaching to the top of the main-mast. The funnels and masts were standing at dusk. No attempt was made to board the Australia, as a heavy sea was fa-caking against her. The origin of the fire is a mystery. A FATAL COLLISION. SYDNEY, July 15. The steamer Taglia Ferra collided with the schooner Western Star, from Cairns to Sydney with a cargo of sugar, ten miles off Nobby's early 'this morning. The Western Star sank, and the captain, mate, and one of the crew were savod, while three seamen and the cook were drowned. (Received July 15, midnight.) SYDNEY, July 15. The Western Star was cut in two, and sank in one minute. A big se u was running and half a gale blowing. MORE NEW STEAMERS. . LONDON, July 14. The new steamer Caronia was launched at Glasgow. She is the largest built on the Clyde, being 023 feet long, and of 21,000 tons, with accommodation for 2650 passengers. The GuU Lino has ordered four steamers each with 300,000 feet of refrigerating space for the Australian trade. The first is to .be launched in August.